"Now, I've settled things with those two Lithuanian heirs." Manuel felt much more relaxed after a thorough analysis at the embassy.
The thought of Grand Duke Vytautas's Eastern European Great Plains proxy plan about to fail immediately filled him with a sense of contentment.
"Now we just wait for that old fox to die." Thinking this, Manuel rubbed his hands together with a hint of anticipation and analyzed to himself, "In the previous timeline, Haji Giray declared independence from the Golden Horde in 1430, but after Vytautas's death, he was driven out of Crimea by Said Ahmad, the Golden Horde Khan at the time.
It wasn't until 1432 that he returned. It was only after that he steadily established a firm foothold in the Crimean region. During that time, he even had the blunder of seeking aid from Lithuania only to be detained by the later Grand Duke.
"Given this, the best opportunity for Theodoro would be when the Crimean Khanate is first established in 1430, to use force against force, to use a borrowed knife to kill, and completely destroy Haji Giray, no, the ruling foundation of all Tatars in Northern Crimea, thereby ensuring these nomads can never rise again in Crimea." As he analyzed this, a cunning smile appeared on Manuel's face, "This time, I will rule the entire Crimean Peninsula."
Time always passed so quickly; in the blink of an eye, the day of departure arrived. Although the Lithuanian nobles, including Grand Duke Vytautas, wanted him to stay and witness the elevation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Manuel, in order to return as soon as possible and plan ahead, still refused their kind offer.
However, before he left, at Vytautas's request, he specially prescribed a remedy for him. The contents were mostly similar to medical books of the time, supplemented by some medical knowledge Manuel knew from his previous life that could alleviate gout. But at the end, he specifically bolded and instructed: "According to Hippocrates, gout is a 'disease unique to the noble' and also a 'disease of not being able to walk.' Therefore, according to the theory of fluid balance, one must drink more wine containing lead sugar, and also bleed bad blood from time to time."
After a final banquet with the Lithuanian nobles, Manuel embarked on his journey home. The return journey was still as long as ever. All things considered, although he had only stayed in Vilnius for just over half a month, the round trip took almost half a year.
"The earliest I'll be back is early January next year, I guess. I should have handled Theodosia's affairs before coming to Lithuania. After all, this reform in Theodosia is only missing its final piece. Never mind," Manuel worried about the affairs he had entrusted in Theodosia on his way back, "I'll trust them; if it really doesn't work, I can cover it when I get back." After some thought, he decided to relax and rest for a while.
Meanwhile, in mid-November, within the city of Theodosia in the Principality of Theodoro—
The noble lords summoned to the palace hall exchanged glances. Although they had heard rumors this time, they didn't expect it to come so quickly; they were to deepen the reforms even before His Highness the Crown Prince returned.
"Is this His Highness's intention?" a minor lord asked curiously.
"Yes, absolutely," Michael Arno guaranteed.
"Last time His Highness changed the tax law, he didn't summon us again. What exactly… Is that matter true?" A newly appointed noble rubbed his hands nervously.
Several noble lords beside him nodded in agreement. The last time a meeting involving the lords was convened was when His Highness the Crown Prince wanted to change the army's organization and reclaim the right to build fortifications.
However, the thought that this meeting was not personally presided over by His Highness, and therefore might not be so subversive, led some lords who considered themselves to have seen through everything to relax a little. "I want to see what else His Highness will do before he leaves." Many thought so.
As they were discussing, two of Manuel's trusted confidants arrived first: one was his Commander of the Guard, Badars, and the other was Isaac Arno, a financial official he had entrusted with important responsibilities. They stood on either side, guarding the hostess of the meeting, a young woman whose beauty could not be concealed even with a veil.
The young woman had dark hair, and her black eyes radiated confidence and calmness. She was dressed formally and elegantly, wearing a blue-purple pallium and a light gold headdress inlaid with pearls, her expression serious and earnest.
"This girl is…" Some people felt a bit familiar but couldn't recall immediately.
"What is what? Are you all stupid?! She is His Highness the Crown Prince's fiancée, the future noblewoman of Theodosia, the Princess of the Principality of Theodoro, a Princess of the Palaiologos imperial family, Her Highness Barbara." A lord who recognized her quickly whispered to those whose minds seemed muddled, fearing they might do something foolish.
But Barbara paid no mind. Instead, she emulated her fiancé, sweeping the entire hall with a majestic gaze. Once she confirmed everyone was present and quiet, she began to explain why she had gathered them for this meeting:
"By the Holy Mother, my lords, I apologize for taking up your time. As His Highness Manuel is temporarily absent due to important matters, I will act on behalf of my fiancé and temporarily fulfill the duties he cannot—to reorganize Theodosia's current system. I ask for your understanding for this urgent action.
"The Western European feudal system, the bad habits left by the Latins in this city, all deeply hinder our further development. My intelligent and wise fiancé, upon learning of these systems favored by Satan, deeply detested them and resolved to change them. To this day, many old rules and regulations of Theodosia have indeed changed because of him.
"But the reform is not yet complete, and everything is not over. To accomplish all of this, one final piece of the puzzle is missing. Just as the Gospel says: 'Now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.'
"Therefore, in accordance with the instructions he left before his departure, I will carry out his will and announce an important resolution: From today onwards, all lords must pledge allegiance to my fiancé, Manuel Gavras. In other words, 'the vassal of my vassal is still my vassal.'"
This statement stirred up a thousand ripples. Although they had been more or less mentally prepared for this over the past few days, when this resolution was truly issued, their hearts still involuntarily raced.
If it were a direct order from His Highness Manuel, they would have accepted it. But the person before them was merely his fiancée. Many thought this way, and the people in the hall slowly began to stir, with murmurs of dissatisfaction gradually emerging.
This was Barbara's first time facing such a scene, and it differed quite a bit from what she had imagined. Although her expression remained normal, her heart had already begun to race uncontrollably. Soon, a stubborn old lord bravely stepped forward and questioned, "Your Highness Barbara, is this truly His Highness the Crown Prince's command, or are you acting on your own initiative?"
What to do, what to do? Barbara felt herself getting nervous. She tried her best to control the helplessness in her eyes and looked at Manuel's trusted confidants behind her. Upon noticing her situation, they, led by Badars, all understood and returned a look of "Don't worry, you know what to do."
After receiving the endorsement of Manuel's trusted confidants, Barbara gathered her courage and said sternly, "Absolutely true. This is his personal instruction and has also received the permission of His Highness the Prince of Mangup. If you have any dissatisfaction with this resolution, you can raise your objection to His Highness when he returns, or try to persuade His Majesty. I am merely acting on his will here." After she finished speaking, Manuel's guards stepped forward, forming a protective stance around her.
"What a joke! If it were His Highness himself issuing the order, then fine, but how can even a woman now…" Before he could finish, the stubborn lord's voice gradually weakened. He had expected that if he raised his arm, everyone would rally in response. "No, wait, why is the hall so quiet…?" Realizing something was seriously wrong, he looked around with a tingling scalp, only to find everyone had hushed, and several of his enemies even wore expressions of schadenfreude.
"Disrespectful speech, questioning imperial authority, opposing government affairs. For these multiple offenses, guards, take him out, strip him of his fief, and banish him to the Kerch Isthmus!" Barbara furiously denounced.
"Yes, Your Highness." No sooner had she spoken than a squad of armored guards stepped forward and directly dragged the stubborn old man out.
Watching his future mistress act this way, Badars felt a little astonished internally. "Is this… learning bad habits from His Highness the Crown Prince? She was such a delicate and lovely girl at first. But with such a wife, His Highness will surely have an easier time." He sighed in his heart.